Explore "The Leopard's Spots" by Fred M. White on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
It was not Stagg's way to seek out results, for his experience taught him that they gravitated naturally towards the man who knew how to wait for them. So he sat down on the terrace in the sunshine, smiling, and calm, and indulging in that humorous philosophy of his which made him a welcome companion everywhere. As he lounged there in his calm, benign way, he appeared to be the very model of a prosperous and easy gentleman who had not a single care in the world. He smiled still more blandly when Stella suggested that the attractive American and Miss Branscombe should come up from the hotel after dinner that evening and take a hand at bridge. And when they did come Stagg dispensed his hospitality and lost his money with the charming ease of a man who rather enjoys that sort of thing.
"To-morrow morning, then," Hawthorne said, as he shook hands with Stella at parting. "Would you mind beginning our round at 10 o'clock? It's rather early, I know, but I want to run up to London in the afternoon to see my new bankers. I shall get into serious trouble if I don't."